Fitting room rules in USA, Canada and elsewhere? - YouLookFab Forum

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Fitting room rules in USA, Canada and elsewhere?

Sanet

Angie's post on size today sort of prompted me to post this.

Here, in sunny South Africa, shops have very strict rules in terms of how many items you are allowed to take into a fitting room at a time. It varies from shop to shop, but can be anything from 5 to 10 (which I have only seen in one shop) with the average being about 6.

This is normally a huge issue for me. I am normally in a bit of a rush and have to try as many items as possible on, in a very short space of time. When also trying to find the right size it often means I can only take 3 different items into the fitting room. Some shops have an option where you can ring a bell and the "security" lady will then bring your other items to the fitting room, but this is not the norm. The alternative is that you have to get dressed to go and get the rest of your items.

So, I was just wondering if this is the norm everywhere else or whether this is a South African thing. (Clearly I haven't really shopped overseas!)

Shopping

17 replies

Latest reply was from pastrygirl

Anonymous

Yes, usually here in Canada it is between 3-8 items permitted. Some stores have the SA come by to swap sizes for you, others you have to come out, disgorge your load of failed attempts and go back in.

rute

Veteran

Here (Portugal) we have de same thing, the average is about 6. When I have more items, I left them with the lady that is at the entrance of the fitting room so that I can exchange items without left the fitting room area!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It really depends on the store here (in Canada). Ceit is right for lots of places. But others seem to let you do as you want.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

In department stores in the US, there is no limit.

Diana

Veteran

Here in the us, I find that lower end and discount stores (like target, tj maxx, etc) have a limit, usually 8. These places generally have enormous fitting rooms with only 1 attendant, so they give you a number (how many items you have) and send you off into the maze of stalls. In dept stores and mid range chain stores like gap and BR, there's generally no limit and the attendant will get more sizes for you if you need. Sometimes they'll even start a room for you if they're not busy so you don't have to carry selections around.
In high end shops and small boutiques I find a wide range. Some have really attentive fitting room service, and others are quite snippy.

anne

Veteran

Australia is Similar to Diana's description

T-Rex

Veteran

In the US, it varies greatly. I've found that on busy days, they are more likely to enforce the rules. On slow days when the sales associates are scarce to begin with, and the ones who are there are busy putting out new merchandise or rearranging the floor, they are more likely to just leave the fitting rooms unlocked and unattended.

Gaylene

Veteran

My experience has been similar to Diana's which is one of the reasons I don't shop some stores because I hate getting dressed and going back out to the floor. If an attendant wants to hold the extra garments and bring them to me, I'll go along with that, but I don't really find it convenient.

I tend to buy in spurts at certain times of the year so, if a salesperson is on commission, it can be worth his/her while to help me pick out a pile of items in assorted sizes and keep me busy trying on items in the dressing room. I find it really odd to see sales associates putting their focus on rearranging the floor and leaving customers to fend for themselves. Rules and policies that make it difficult for your customers to buy from you just seems counterproductive to me.

Sanet

It sounds like we are not alone at least! I do understand that on busy days there should be a limit, otherwise you might not even make it into the fitting room. Bending the rules when it is not busy would be very helpful.

Irene

Veteran

In Spain there's also a limit (which depends on the store).
I believe it has to do with two issues:
- This way they can control how many items go in and how many go out, thus being able to detect both which items get picked more often, which get picked less and if some just happen to disappear inside a costumer's bag.
- This way they can also prevent costumers from spending too much time in the fitting room, especially if there is a line outside.

In most stores they will keep the rest of items for you so that you can come out and exchange. It still makes me feel bad when there are a lot of people waiting for me to finish though.

Jules

Veteran

The limits drive me nuts. Especially when I am shopping with my young daughter (too young to go in a dressing room alone) at places that have clothes for both of us. It has definitely limited how much I bought on several occasions because we just could only make so many trips back and forth.
Question, when shopping at places that have limits but no SA assistance or line up, do you go back on the floor wearing store clothes to hunt down the other size or different item that you want? I do. When I shop at Joe Fresh for example, I prefer to grab everything that catches my eye, do a quick initial evaluation then decide if I'm interested enough to search for other sizes, try another colour etc. I refuse to change back into my clothes just to go get another size, but I hate being put in that position of wandering the store in their clothes. If I lived more conveniently to the store I would just buy and return a lot more, which can't help the stores either.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

In my area the cheaper the prices, the more they have limits and enforce them. I think this is mostly for reasons of theft prevention. I've never had anyone mention limits at someplace like Nordstrom - they are happy to start a room for you and encourage you to buy as much as you want . My Target is a 6 item limit, but they will hold the rest for you at the dressing room entrance, so you can swap out without having to put your shoes on or anything. (Honestly, I usually just buy whatever I'm interested in and return what doesn't work; I'm at Target all the time anyway so that's actually simpler.) The two places that are the most draconian for limits in my experience are Nordstrom Rack and Marshall's/TJMaxx, both of which make you hang up your stuff so they can count it 'officially', then give you an item tag, and then recheck the whole thing when you get out of the fitting room. I guess people have figured out ways to get the tags off the garment somehow so they don't set off the alarms, and sneak them out in their purse?

Oh, an aside: one of my local thrift stores has recently switched from having open dressing rooms to having to search down an employee to unlock one of them for you. Which would be fine, except they're always understaffed and everyone's manning a checkout, so the only way to try something on without dying of old age first is to keep an eye out for someone in the fitting room exiting and swoop down like a hawk.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Here in the US, the limits are usually at lower-priced stores and/or stores that are very big with a high chance of theft. The Rack had a limit of 15, many stores like TJ Maxx or Ross will limit to 8 or so. Stores like Target, Walmart, Forever 21, H&M, and I think even Zara have limits and give you a numbered tag to be sure you exit with the same number you entered with.

A store like Nordstrom or Macy's (at least what I remember at Macy's) usually does not have a limit, and the SAs should actually be encouraging you to try as much as possible!

rachylou

Veteran

There's a limit sometimes in the smaller chain stores - like H&M. But you can take it all in and the attendant will hold your stuff. You just pop your head out to ask for the rest.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Laura, YES, that is the reason. Shoplifters find many creative ways to defeat sensors - or sneak in items like underwear etc. that don't have sensors on them. If only that creativity was channelled elsewhere!

Jules

Veteran

Oh and I have to say that at Joe, the shoplifting reasoning makes no sense because nobody checks to see what items I bring out anyway, as I run around exchanging sizes and grabbing new stuff, and keep my extra stuff in my shopping cat outside the dressing room. Even at better stores, there is often no one waiting when I get out of the room. So what are they verifying exactly?
I understand the initial logic is good, but without the follow up it's all just an annoyance that hinders me from spending my money.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I do most of my shopping at TJMaxx, and lately they will write in a number for me (usually 15). Even then, I might have another pile waiting in my cart outside the dressing room, for round 2, 3, 4.

I've only been in a couple of stores where someone will help and bring a different size; it's not the norm for the stores where I typically shop. It's a hassle to get dressed just to get the next lot, but I often have to do it. I try to avoid shopping with my kids for that reason!